Bible Strands
2 Kings 14:8
Then Amaziah sent messengers to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Amaziah king of Judah dispatches envoys to Jehoash king of Israel (son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu) immediately after his campaign against Edom, issuing a direct challenge for a military confrontation.
The words — The Hebrew שָׁלַח (sha.Lach) records the formal sending of royal messengers, while the phrase "meet face to face" denotes a direct, single-combat style engagement between two reigning monarchs.
The thread — This diplomatic challenge parallels the combat proposal in 2 Samuel 2:14, repeats the same exchange found in 2 Chronicles 25:17, and directly precedes the battlefield deployment described in 2 Kings 14:11.
Why it lands — The text documents a king’s decision to convert recent military success into a direct royal duel, requiring readers to observe how a single challenge initiates a conflict that the narrative will immediately test.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 25:17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent word to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said.
- 2 Samuel 2:14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.
- 2 Kings 14:11 But Amaziah would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh in Judah.
- Proverbs 13:10 Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
- Proverbs 17:14 To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
- Proverbs 18:6 A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
- Proverbs 20:18 Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
- Proverbs 25:8 do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?